A fully functional flow analyzer that can be assembled "from the ground up", used to teach the underlying principles and practical operation of flow cytometers.
Inspired by the Build Your Own Flow Cytometer system developed by John Martin and Mark Wilder at the National Flow Cytometry Resource at Los Alamos National Laboratories, this system was built as a  teaching tool that can be easily transported to international flow cytometry workshops.  Built from carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium and 3D printed components, and utilizing modern, lightweight laser, optical and electronic components, it is light enough to be transported as checked luggage.  It can be assembled from its basic components by students in a classroom or workshop environment.  It is a terrific way to learn both basic and advanced flow cytometry!

The portable system was originally proposed by Bill Telford at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and Scott Cram, formerly at LANL  The original system was larger and tranported in two cases. 
The small, lightweight 488 nm laser source on this system was manufactured by Vortran Laser Technology, Inc.  It is one of the smallest 488 nm sources available.
The unit is carried in Nanuk pretective cases.  Nanuk cases are lighter in weight  than conventional protective hard cases.
This system and site is maintained by Bill Telford at the National Cancer Institute.  Contact him with questions, comments or inquiries about presentations.
The Flow Cytometry Maker Lab is a project developed by Bill Telford and the NCI LP Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory.
Download the most recent PowerPoint presentation showing the updated system here.  All materials and videos can be used at no charge with permission.

The Make Your Own Flow Cytometer is usually a live hands-on experience.  During to the COVID-19 pandemic, we produced an hour-long video introducing and detailing the building of the Make Your Own Cytometer using the original larger system.  You can download all 10 segments here.
We are starting to incorporate Coherent BioRay and StingRay 488 nm lasers into the Make Your Own Mini.
The Make Your Own Cytometer is an entirely non-profit endeavor.  Contact us if you would like this system presented at your institution.
The system was redesigned in 2022 to fit in one case, making it easier to transport.   It ia also now built almost entirely by 3D printing with almost 90% structural elements and optical mounts maunfactured by FDM technologies.  It "lives" in Bill Telford's lab at NCI, where it undergoes testing, maintenance, and constant design evolution.

The newer small system is now used for international workshops while the larger older system is sitll used for local and remote programs.  It has been used as a teaching tool in international flow cytometry workshops around the world, including India, Thailand, China, Turkey, Germany, Nepal, Switzerland, Nepal, Uruguay - over 23 countries and counting!
Click here to learn more about the original larger system (pre-2022)

Click here to see the assembly sequence of the original larger system (pre-2022.
Click here to learn more about the latest Make Your Own Cytometer!
Begin the assembly process of the new 3D printed system!
All 3D printing in this project was done with comsumer level FDM printers from AnyCubic and Qidi Tech.
We use a variety of advanced engineering FDM filaments in Make Your Own, including carbon fiber mixes CF-ABS, CF-ASA, CF-PET and CF-PPS, as well as polypropylene (PP), normal and carbon fiber polycarbonate (CF-PC). metal infused PLA and high-flexibility TPU.  These come from these and other suppliers.
Learn how 3D printing makes the Make Your Own Cytometer possible, and why we use the materials we use.
The Make Your Own Flow Cytometer